Lead by Example

As members and future leaders of the tech community, we also lead our families, friends, and neighbors in adapting to and accepting new technologies. We need to lead by example in carefully adopting and using technology. A common example is that we often talk about the negative effects of spending too much time on social media, especially with our children, but what do we say when we aren't talking? What do our children and friends see? We are the passionate ones in this subject and as such, we must be the first to lay down our theoretical weapons of social isolation to converse and interact with one another. Would you go to a dentist that never brushes his teeth? While our hypocrisy may not be as socially unaccepted, the consequences on those we are trying to help and guide will be similar, disbelief and loss of authority. Practice what we preach, and preach what is right, not what is socially accepted.

How Much is Enough?

When we play a sport, we become tired, it may get dark, we may have to go inside or come home. Enough is almost self-defined by our own physical limits and by the demands of others. We and those responsible for us set those limits. In contrast, playing Candy Crush or Halo doesn't have those natural limitations, by the time my eyes hurt from playing too much it could have been days or many hours. I have my smartphone everywhere I go, my gaming or social media use could really only be determined by its battery life or social norms of the situations and people around me. How much is enough in those cases? Every user, and all users under that users influence, should strive to put a limit on their use of technology. Some professions may have to be on longer than others for work purposes but for recreational or at-home use, restrictions still need to be made. The same goes for our children, they should have opportunities to build friendships and socialize, not "texting" buddies and online friends, and we are responsible for helping them. In the end, no one can or really should tell how much is enough, we should be responsible and set limits upon ourselves and upon those we care for.